Transcript Adaptation Overview

Getting Climate Change Adaptation
on the Agenda
7 December 2010
Gill Fenna - Quantum Strategy & Technology
Climate Change Adaptation
• Understanding how weather patterns are
expected to change in the future
• Planning to avoid these changes causing us
problems
The Process
• Understanding the risks
• Deciding where/whether to reduce vulnerability
or respond to the risk
• Reducing vulnerability
– Planning to minimise & manage the risks
– Developing community & business resilience
• Dealing with an event
– Emergency Planning – immediate response
– Business Continuity - maintaining services
– Recovery – picking up the pieces
Twin Approach to Reducing
Vulnerability
• Building Adaptive Capacity
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Policies, strategies, embedding
Training, education, awareness
Creating resilience
Resources and management
• Delivering Actions
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Building flood defences
Installing natural cooling
Storm-proofing buildings
Replacing road surfaces
Some Issues Faced
• Understanding the difference climate change might make
to a response-based approach
• Dealing with changes beyond the planning horizon of most
organisations
• Developing a business case for investment against future
risk – lack of data
• Identifying what’s important to do now (or soon)
• Parking things that may be necessary in a few years (but
not right now)
What about NI188?
• No return required for Year 3
• “Local Authorities have an essential role to play
in planning ahead & taking adaptation action”
Robin Mortimer, Defra communication to Chief Executives, 11/11/10
• Regional Climate Change Partnerships and
RIEPS to take lead role
• Many statutory responsibilities linked to climate
change adaptation remain
Use Civil Contingencies
• NI 188 process has helped to focus attention and review
existing plans
• Weather emergencies should already be covered in risk
management
• Loss of staff should be covered in business continuity
(planned for flu pandemic)
• Public Health/NHS have planned for heatwaves &
extreme cold
Everyone likes a good emergency
Use Other Responsibilities
• Planning policy should already take climate
change into account for new developments
• Flood & Surface Water Management Act
responsibilities
• Public Health responsibilities coming to Local
Authorities
Use Quantified Risk Assessment
• Financial cost to the council of dealing with a weather
emergency
• Impact on ability to deliver services
• Impact on customers or constituents – injury, illness or
death
• Impact on council’s activities if own staff are affected
• Liability for injury, damage or loss of life
• Reputational risk – even if it isn’t your responsibility
Council Impact – Allerdale 2010
• Clearing mud, silt & debris
• Skips for water-damaged goods - 291
tonnes
• 8000 sandbags distributed
• Emergency helpline – 20 staff
• Provision of food, protective clothing,
barriers, a generator, mobile banking
facilities, temporary street lighting,
medical assistance
• Libraries used as flood support centres
• Provision of temporary accommodation
• 700 properties inspected for structural
failure
• Relief fund for shop owners
Costs of 2007 Floods
Impact
Households
Businesses
Temporary Accommodation
Vehicles
Local Government
Public Health
Utilities
Communications
Agriculture
Environment Agency
Emergency Services
£ million
1200
740
94
80
219
287
325
144
50
19
8
3166
Defra: The costs of the 2007 Floods in England
The report underestimates:
Actual financial outlay by households and businesses
Long term public health impacts
% insured
76%
95%
95%
95%
45%
n/a
32%
50%
5%
n/a
45%
Dealing with Recovery - Hull 2007
“After the Rain”, LEC 2010
• 8,600 homes affected, 91 schools
• Stress – managing repairs, dealing with
officials, insurers & contractors,
unfairness, insensitivity
• Poor quality repairs & advice
• Lack of co-ordination between different
organisations
• Money worries – upfront payments, rent,
insurance
• Health problems – respiratory, infections,
exhaustion, allergies
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Typical Gaps – Long Term
Thinking
Green space planning
Surface water management - communication
Implementation of planning policy
Reducing the effect of excessive heat
Assessment of budget implications of prevention
vs dealing with the event
– Roads maintenance, tree maintenance, social care,
housing
• Maximising community involvement
Don’t forget the small things
• Simple solutions may be suggested by staff
– Changing dress codes/uniforms
– Changing timetables
– Re-setting controls
• Think about the detail and how things work in
practice
– Do IT systems work if everyone logs on from home?
– Capturing knowledge of how people already deal with
problems
Experience so far
• Emergency response is well-planned
• Business continuity planning is in place but gaps
in some cases
• Recovery phase planning not generally well
understood or developed
• Prevention only really considered for serious
risks e.g. flooding, and in some new
developments
– “ we are very good at managing failure”
Questions
• What’s driving your work on adaptation? Do you see that
changing
• What are the key arguments/issues that have persuaded
senior management?
• What has helped you make progress?
• What are the main problems you face?